Ex-Lions back row Neil Leeming will coach the Midlands One side next season with additional input from Rugby's senior coaching team, headed by Paul Turner and Richard Cockerill.

And the move has paid an immediate dividend with full-back Wayne Holmes, centre Paul Tyrrell and flanker Glenn Southwell - captain last season - all pledging their immediate future to Barkers after being linked with possible moves to Nuneaton.

"They have assured me that they are happy with what the club is doing and are staying," said Barkers team manager Mick Biggs.

"They want competitive rugby and training, and some decent coaching which is what we believe the tie-up will give us. Neil is very ambitous as a coach and sees Barkers as the ideal vehicle to further his career.

"We ourselves are looking to recruit a couple of new players to strengthen the squad."

Leeming will retain his link with Rugby Lions, but will work with Barkers on their training nights and be with the junior club on match days.

The two clubs will be working closely together," said Rugby's chief executive Mal Malik.

"We have had a number of meetings with Barkers and we are forming an alliance with them as we hope to do with other clubs both above and below us.

"We are trying to build up relationships of trust within a club to the point where people will want to talk to Rugby Lions - we want to be known as the first place people think of as a local rugby club and it is part of an overall exercise to spread the word about Rugby Lions.

"We know Barkers had a bad experience with Coventry, but we are not after anything other than trying to build bridges.

"Paul and Richard will go up to Barkers for sessions, and their play-ers will have the opportunity to come and train with us.

"We will act the role of senior club and help with coaching and player development, and in any other way we can such as marketing or administration and even the possible loan of players."

Lions will not be running a second XV next season, but plan to field a regular Nighthawks midweek side which will involve junior clubs around the area as their own fringe players, colts and under-21s.